WEST virginia legislature

2020 regular session

Enrolled

Senate Bill 750

By Senators Rucker and Cline

[Passed March 6, 2020; in effect 90 days from passage]

AN ACT to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §18-2-7e, relating to establishing alternative educational opportunities for elective course credit; setting forth legislative findings; requiring the state board to promulgate a rule requiring county boards to develop alternative educational opportunities policies; requiring county boards to adopt alternative educational opportunities policies and setting forth parameters therefore; authorizing county boards to approve or deny alternative educational programs and to audit the same; and requiring the Department of Education to report to the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability after three years of implementation.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

article 2. state board of education.

§18-2-7e. Alternative educational opportunities for elective course credit.

(a) The Legislature finds and declares that:

(1) Programs outside of the traditional classroom have educational value;

(2) Many entities, including, but not limited to, nonprofit organizations, afterschool programs, businesses, and trade associations, may have an interest in offering programs outside of the traditional classroom that are attractive to students and contain educational value;

(3) Learning opportunities that are designed to address the interests and aptitudes of the individual student will enable students to discover, develop, and apply their individual talents to realize their full potential;

(4) Policies that allow for educational opportunities outside of the traditional classroom exist in other states;

(5) Providing credit for alternative educational opportunities will enrich the learning environment of students and develop well-rounded individuals ready for a life of learning, productive work, and community involvement.

(b) The State Board of Education shall promulgate a rule requiring county boards of education to develop an alternative educational opportunities policy that provides students involved in educational opportunities outside of the traditional classroom to receive elective course credit.

(c) The county boards of education shall adopt an alternative educational opportunities policy that recognizes learning opportunities outside of the traditional classroom and grants elective course credit. The policy shall:

(1) Provide for an application process for entities to submit proposals for alternative educational programs that will qualify for elective course credit;

(2) Define which entities are eligible to submit applications for alternative educational programs: Provided, That entities which are deemed eligible shall be broadly defined and shall include, but not be limited to:

(A) Nonprofit organizations;

(B) Businesses with established locations in the state;

(C) Trade associations;

(D) Parents of students involved in programs that may otherwise qualify as an alternative educational program;

(E) Teachers involved in programs outside of the traditional classroom; and

(F) School personnel involved in programs outside of the traditional classroom;

(3) Provide for the criteria to be used to evaluate the alternative educational program;

(4) Describe any communication and collaboration needed between the local school, county board, or State Board of Education to implement alternative educational opportunities;

(5) Place requirements on the entity, such as background checks for key personnel, and minimum accountability standards; and

(6) Provide a process for student credit transfer.

(d) The county boards of education shall have the authority to approve or deny an application for an alternative educational program: Provided, That if the application is denied, the county board shall provide a detailed explanation of the reasons for its denial and suggest ways to improve the application that will assist its more favorable view by the county board.

(e) The county boards of education shall have the authority to audit approved alternative educational programs at any time. If the audit results in findings that an approved program is not meeting the provisions of this section or the policy outlined in subsection (c) of this section, then the county board may disqualify the program immediately.

(f) The Department of Education shall prepare a report of data analysis and an overview of the alternative learning opportunities to the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability after three years of implementation.